The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-03-11
THE LOT OF WOMEN.

THE LOT OF WOMEN.
Why Every 0ira Should Acquire Founda.
tion ON which She Could Build sIlvali-
hood. -
The keenest sufferers to-day. the ones
most liable to suffer from poverty, are
those who have grown up in homes Of
comfort, if not luxury, and whom cir
cumstances suddenly force into posi-
ton where they must support them
selves or become objects Of charity,
thrown on the world without the east
preparation to meet its wants or tht ir
own.
1t is positively criminal for parents
to allow their daughters to grow into
maturity without laying . foundation
on which they can build a livelihood
should circumstances demand it. It
costs no more time or money to edu-
cate girl to a definite purpose, q
definit object, than it does to let her
saunter through her school days ac-
quiring little or much as inclination and
conscience dictate. Give a purpose to
her school life by imbuing her with
the desire to develop all her powers,
and give her sense of responsibility
by cducati ng her to understand the
possibilities of the future, and the wis.,
dom of preparing for that possibility.
Nothing gives more dignity and poise
to character than the consciousness
that one can stand erect and steadfast
when the occasion demands. To allow
a girl strong and in the possession Of
her mental and physical powers to
grow up without an education that can
be turned into money is beyol d all
things cruel. 1t places her at an im-
mense disadvantage. She faces the
world with the consciousness that mar
riage is the destiny to which she is con-
signed by herself and friends. To miss
it is to fail to reach the goal. to win the
prize. So every unmarried man is view
ed in the light of such unwritten hopes,
unexpressed. unacknowlcdgcd thoughts.
Alas! how poor the prize that some
have taken!
When girl at maturity is equipped
to meet the future ON her own respOns-
Utility. she has gained the wisdom to
see life without the decisions and false
ideas that hold and govern n girl who
looks for position that is the gift of
another. When the gift of heart and
possessions comes to q girl so educated,
she accepts with dignity, because 1t is
not necessity to her future. Support,
position. she could have gained for her.
self. And she more truly gives herself
to a husband who does not need his ma
terial gifts nor his name as a mantle to
cover inefficiency. Charlotte Bronte
years ago said:
this neighborhoOd! The brothers Of these girls
are every one In business or in professions:
they have something to do. Their sisters have
no earthly employment but household work and
sewing: no earthly pleasure but IN Improbable
visit. and no hope in all their lives to come, Of
any thing better. The great wish, the sole aim,
Of every one OF them Is to be married, but the
majority will never marry; they will die rs they
now live. Could men live SO themselves! Would
they not be very weary! Lucretia spinning at
midnight among her maidens. and Solomon's
virtuous women, are often quoted as patterns Of
what the sex ought to be; but the virtuous
woman had more to do than to spin and give
out portions: she was manufacturer-sho
made fine linen and sold it; she was On agricul-
turist-she bought estates and planted vine
yards. Strength and honor were her clothing;
~ - h,~-t nRcn~.
She opened her mouth with wisdom; in her
tongue was the law of kindness; her children
rose up and called her blessed; her husband also
praised her. King of Israel! your model Of
, woman Is . worthy model! But, are we, in
these days, brought up to be like her? Mea of
Yorkshire! do your daughters reach this lofty
standard! Can they reach it? Can you help
hem to reach it: Can you give them field in
which their faculties may be exercised and
grow! Men Of England! look at your poor girls,
many Of them fading round you, dropping OF in
or decline; or, what is worse. de-
generating into sour old maids. or. what is worse
han all, reduced to strive, by scarce modest
,oquetry and debasing artifice, to gain that po-
,ition and consideration by marriage which to
,elibacy is denied"
Free every girl from the thralldom
IF false standard. false ideas. Let her
decide her destiny unfettercd by the
thought of helplessness to provide for
herself should necessity demand it.
The noblest, truest lie for woman is
that of wife and mother. But that is
noblest and truest only when entered
INTO unselfishly, reverently and forl,ye
alone, founded and rooted in deepest
respect. A feeling coaxed into a SEM
blance of love because the object bids
lair to stand between future needs and
the necessity of self-support is not a
owe born of God, or sanctified by tho
relation. 1t is unjust to any
girl to place her where her heart can
not dictate unbiased. 1t is cruel to let
4 woman face the world unable to earn
her bread if the future cOmpels her
own hands to supply the needs of life
Tor herself and others.-Christian Union.
New Treatment for Roun